Lead Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Veterans Health Administration • Tomah, WI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Firefighter (Basic Life Support) serves as a General Schedule leader over at least three lower-graded staff. The position works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Firefighter (Captain) and supervision by the Assistant Fire Chief. The incumbent leads employees and performs firefighting, rescue, fire-prevention, hazardous-material response, and Basic Life Support duties.

The incumbent distributes and balances work, instructs employees in tasks and techniques, monitors work in progress, reviews completed work, adjusts daily priorities, trains new employees, and provides the supervisor with information about promotions, reassignment, performance recognition, and staffing needs.

Operational duties include controlling and extinguishing fires; operating hose lines, hydrants, pumps, foam generators, firefighting vehicles, and specialized equipment; conducting forcible entry and ventilation; using ladders and hand and hydraulic tools; and performing rescue, salvage, and overhaul. The incumbent may conduct specialized rescues, respond to hazardous-material spills, provide protective standby measures for hazardous operations, and respond in hazardous weather. Rescue duties may include water rescue. The incumbent monitors water supply and pressure and advises fire-attack and rescue personnel.

The position administers Basic Life Support in accordance with established medical standards and procedures. Duties include patient assessment, determining care priorities, CPR, AED and LUCAS device use, taking and monitoring vital signs, seeking information about medical history and medications, and completing patient documentation. The incumbent maintains emergency medical equipment and supplies, disposes of biohazard materials, and replaces expendable supplies.

This is a full-time position with a 72-hour workweek and a variable tour to be discussed during the interview. The position is not virtual. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized. The firefighter must maintain physical fitness, complete daily physical activity and annual physical agility testing, and pass an annual firefighter physical. Duties may involve wearing approximately 75 pounds of protective equipment, entering unsafe environments, carrying heavy equipment and victims, and working under stressful and dangerous conditions.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For GS-8 qualification, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 in the federal service; qualifying experience must demonstrate competencies for the position.
• Current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees must meet the GS-8 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-7, when applicable.
• Ability to perform initial and ongoing focused patient assessment and physical examination.
• Ability to take, record, and monitor baseline vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, and pulse.
• Experience managing respiratory and cardiac emergencies, including CPR, bag-valve-mask resuscitation, or AED use.
• Experience performing fire inspections and recognizing fire hazards; familiarity with building layouts and fire-protection systems.
• Experience conducting fire-prevention training, fire drills, and extinguisher training, and knowledge of applicable fire-prevention ordinances and building codes.
• Experience inspecting facilities for fire-safety violations and other fire hazards.
• Experience operating firefighting apparatus and using extinguishing equipment, including foam and dry chemical agents, and specialized rescue equipment.
• Certification and ability to drive and operate complex fire department firefighting apparatus and equipment.
• Maintain physical fitness to endure firefighting exertion and stress; complete one hour of physical activity per day, annual physical agility testing, and an annual firefighter physical.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus weighing approximately 75 pounds, enter unsafe buildings and atmospheres, and carry heavy equipment and victims.
• Ability to maintain alertness, self-control, and emotional stability under stressful, confusing, and dangerous conditions.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-appointment drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding, and a probationary period may be required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• No educational substitution is available at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Distribute and balance workload among employees, ensure timely completion, and maintain an appropriate workload for each employee.
• Instruct employees in tasks and job techniques and provide written instructions, reference materials, and supplies.
• Monitor work in progress, spot-check work as appropriate, and review completed work for compliance with supervisory instructions, procedures, methods, and deadlines.
• Track work status and progress, adjust daily priorities, and seek supervisory assistance with problems such as unresolved backlogs.
• Provide on-the-job training to new employees and provide the supervisor information about promotions, reassignment, recognition, and personnel needs.
• Control and extinguish fires; operate nozzles, hose lines, hydrants, pumps, foam generators, and firefighting vehicles and equipment.
• Perform forcible entry, ventilation, ladder operations, salvage, overhaul, and rescue operations using hand tools, hydraulic tools, extinguishers, and specialized equipment.
• Conduct specialized rescues, including potential water rescue, and respond to hazardous-material spills and hazardous operations.
• Provide standby and other protective measures for operations such as helicopter landings and liquid oxygen deliveries, including during hazardous weather.
• Monitor water supply and pressure and advise fire-attack and rescue personnel.
• Administer Basic Life Support, assess patients, determine care priorities, perform CPR, and use AED and LUCAS devices as appropriate.
• Take, record, and monitor patient vital signs; seek information about preexisting medical problems and medication history; and prepare relevant patient documentation.
• Maintain emergency medical equipment, dispose of biohazard materials properly, and replace medical and expendable supplies.
• Maintain required physical fitness, complete required agility testing and firefighter physical examinations, and perform strenuous emergency work in protective equipment.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed